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20.14 (15.14) We are going to leave it there for today. Please check out our Venezuela page for more news and reaction. Here.

19.55 (14.55) Venezuelans are not the only ones devastated by the loss of their country's 'Commandante'. In Cuba, where Chavez perhaps had his best ally in the region, others have been vocalising their grief throughout the day. Lizzy Tomei, from GlobalPost, reports:

19.28 (14.28) As Chavez's casket proceeds through the streets of Caracas, some cheer but many more mourn. One Venezuelan Twitter user described the scene downtown, tweeting out a popular slogan heard among mourners on the scene. Essentially it goes, "With Maduro we will go safely ahead."

18.35 (13.35) US diplomats have just finished a briefing on the situation in Venezuela, Raf Sanchez reports:

The US State Department, while long anticipating Chavez's death, was caught off guard by the expulsion of its diplomats and the anti-American outburst from Nicolas Maduro.

"I think yesterday was part of an election campaign," said one State Department official with a sigh. "Regardless of the reasons for it, there were some outrageous charges leveled against the United States publicly and that's really unfortunate and we rejected those.

They warned that Maduro and other candidates were likely continue to taunt the US over the course of the Venezuelan elections and "we no doubt will continue to hear things about the US that will not help improve the relationship."

The State Department was cautious about addressing the key question thrown up by Chavez's passing: would his usher in a new chapter in the US-Venezuelan relationship?

"[The Venezuelan government] really did revolve around one man so while I hesitate to say that the passing of one individual will completely change the relationship I do think he played outsized role and therefore his absence can have outsized implications," said one official. "But it's hard to know for us right now whether the new government will accelerate or stop the momentum towards a better relationship."

18.50 (13.50) Here is some footage of the funeral procession in Caracas:

17.40 (12.40) Peter Foster, our US editor, is on the ground in Caracas and sends this snippet:

Stunning scenes in Caracas. Chavez's coffin just passed two feet from where I was standing. Can't move for the hot, human press of the crowds. The ground is shaking with the beat of drums and the Chavistas chants: "Chavez vive! La lucha sigue! Chavez Lives! The struggle goes on!"

15.51 (10.51) Hundreds are watching in Caracas as the Chavez funeral procession begins. Venezuelans watching the coffin move through the streets have been talking to Reuters:

"I'm here to say my final goodbye to my president. There will never be another Chavez. He is the greatest man that this fatherland gave us," said Jose Gregorio Conde, 34, an education worker.

"I couldn't sleep all night thinking about what happened," he said.

"What can I sat, I am very sad," said Isabel Febres, who cried as she stared at a photo of Chavez with his presidential sash.

"I love him," said Iris Dicuro, 62, who came from the northeastern city of Puerto La Cruz and wore a shirt with the words "Forward Comandante." "I want to bid farewell because he was a good man who gave everything to the poor."

"He did well for me. I am healthy thanks to him, for the Cuban doctors that he brought here," she said, referring to one of the many oil-funded social programs he brought to impoverished neighborhoods.

“I have great doubts about how it happened that six leaders of Latin American countries including Chavez fell ill in the last couple of years with one and the same disease, which is called cancer,” said the Communist leader. “I can’t rule out that behind this is the work of some very dirty secret services. Modern technology makes a lot of things possible.”

Russia’s Communist Party still controls about 20% of the lower house of parliament and Mr Zyuganov came second after Vladimir Putin in last year’s presidential election.

Streets in the wealthier areas of the capital were deserted and there have been several outbreaks of violence already today.

12.33 (07.33) The funeral will take place on Friday at the Military Academy of Caracas, confirms Elias Jaua, Venezuelan's Foreign Minster, who said around ten foreign heads of state would be in attendance.

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has sent a condolence message in which he called Mr Chavez "one of the most influential figures in the modern history of Venezuela."

In a communique to the Venezuelan government, he wrote: "Spain expresses its desire to continue working intensely in strengthening bilateral ties and the relations of deep friendship that the people of the two countries have enjoyed for many years."

11.23 (06.23) The UN's Human Rights Council has held a minute's silence out of respect for Mr Chavez, whose record it has often criticised over the years. The tribute was led by the ambassador from Cuba.

10.52 (05.52) Telegraph correspondent Fiona Govan has rounded up all the Spanish-language reaction to Mr Chavez's death this morning.

She reports:

In Cuba, where Mr Chavez received cancer treatment, the state television channel gave over their entire news coverage to Chavez's death and the government announced three official days of mourning. In a statement from Cuban government, Mr Chavez was praised because he "stood by Fidel like a true son".

Cristina Fernandez Kirchner, President of Argentina, suspended official activities and announced three days mourning in Argentina. She said she would travel to Caracas Wednesday morning to participate in the wake. A strong ally and friend of Mr Chavez, she had visited his bedside in Cuba in January and had taken him a Bible.

Bolivia announced seven days of mourning and its President Evo Morales, one of Mr Chavez's closest allies, departed for Caracas soon after hearing news of his death. "We are hurt, we are devasted," he said on public television. "We Feel Hugo Chavez is more alive than ever and he will continue to be an inspiration for people fighting for freedom."

In neighbouring Colombia, President Juan Manuel Santos addressed public television to praise Mr Chavez's role in the peace process with FARC guerillas.

Costa Rica said it hoped Venezuela would find "a path of democracy and peace."

The president of Peru, Ollanta Humala, immediately announced that he would travel to Venezuela to particpate in funeral of his "amigo Hugo Chavez". He send his condolences to all of Venezuela and wrote on his twitter account "Adios, comandante y amigo Hugo Chavez" - "Goodbye Comandante and friend".

In Spain news outlets are reminding Spaniards of an exchange between Spain's King Juan Carlos and Mr Chavez when the monarch famously asked him: "Why don't you just shut up?".

The incident at the Ibero-American summit of 2007 in Santiago, Chile came as Mr Chavez repeatedly tried to interupt Spain's prime minister Zapatero and became an instant YouTube hit.

Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua mourns Mr Chavez. Picture: EPA

10.00 (05.00) We've had a bit more on Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's reaction to Mr Chavez's death to his friend Hugo Chavez's death. Even for Mr Ahmadinejad, it is quite emotive: he's said that Mr Chavez will return with Jesus and the Twelth Imam.

Mr Ahmadinjad is a Twelver Shiite Muslim, who believes in the return of a Messianic hidden Imam at the end of an era of injustice and suffering.

From AFP:

"He finally died from a suspect illness and he gave his life... to the elevation of his country and the freedom of his people," Ahmadinejad said in a message of condolences to Vice President Nicolas Maduro.

The Iranian president was backing claims made by Maduro shortly before Chavez's death was announced that Venezuela's enemies had somehow afflicted the firebrand leftist with the cancer that eventually killed him.

"Venezuela lost its brave, strong son and the world lost a wise and revolutionary leader," Ahmadinejad added.

"I have no doubt that he will return, along with the righteous Jesus and the perfect human."

The last was a reference to Shiite Islam's 12th imam that Iran's majority faith believes will return with Christ to bring peace and justice to the world.

Reflecting Poland’s deeply sceptical view on Chavez and his style of government born out of the country’s own experience with socialism the leading Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza wrote that he created an “authoritarian government, cut down the opposition and destroyed the independent media.” Not mincing its words, it concluded that his death leaves “a void and a frightened populace.”

09.11 (04.11) There's more reaction from South Africa this morning also, where Aislinn Laing tells us that President Jacob Zuma has paid tribute to President Chávez’s "visionary" leadership and his commitment to "the social struggles of the less fortunate in Venezuela".

Meanwhile, she says, Julius Malema, the outspoken former president of the ANC Youth League who was expelled from the movement for indiscipline, described Mr Chavez as "a fearless, politically determined and ideologically steadfast leader".

And South Africa's Young Communist League of SA said it was "devastated at the news" of Mr Chavez's death. "Comrade Chavez was an inspiration to all progressive forces around the world.... His defiance of imperialism and his insistence that Venezuela's vast oil reserves be used to uplift the masses of the people has changed the lives of millions of people," spokesman Khaya Xaba said.

08.31 (03.31) Vladimir Putin has also paid his respects, hailing Mr Chavez as an "uncommon and strong man who looked into the future and always set the highest target for himself" in a telegram of condolence.

He also thanked Mr Chavez for laying the "solid basis" for Russia-Venezuela relations.

Our correspondent in Moscow Tom Parfitt writes:

Moscow has forged close military and energy ties with Caracas in recent years. Mr Chavez signed billions of dollars of deals since 2005 to buy Russian-made weapons such as tanks, fighter jets, helicopters and 100,000 Kalashnikovs.

In turn, Russia became a large investor in the Venezuelan economy and has pledged to sink $17.6bn (GBP11.6bn) in oil and gas projects in the South American country by 2019.

08.14 (03.14) Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has mourned Mr Chavez as a "martyr".

07.59 (02.59) More pictures of grieving Venezuelans are pouring in this morning, such as this EPA image from Bolivar Square in Caracas:

06.53 (01.53) Chinese ambassador to Venezuela, Wang Zhen, says he was a good personal friend of Chavez. Here's one quote from his reminiscences.

"He liked Chinese food. We used to have dinner together and he liked sweet and sour pork and sweet and sour fish. He also liked drinking Mao Tai (the Chinese liquor) and volunteered to use chopsticks. He once said: 'If I can make it to president, I can surely manage to use chopsticks!'".

06.20 (01.20) In South Africa, The African National Congress Youth League said it joined with the people of Venezuela and the world "in mourning the passing of a gallant revolutionary, servant of the people and the hope of the poor and marginalised throughout the world, Commander President Comrade Hugo Chavez".

Until the very end, Comrade Chavez continued to inspire the determined fight against imperialist tyranny for a just world order centred on the unshakeable human values of equitable distribution, economic freedom and democracy," a statement from the youth wing of the South African, socialist ruling party said.

"We have no doubt that the people of Venezuela will never sell out the Bolivarian Revolution and will continue the fight to build a united Latin America in solidarity with the progressive internationalist socialist left. The ideas of Comrade Hugo Chavez will never die and nowhere are they more urgent than in Africa today."

05.50 (00.50) Another fan of Chavez,Michael Moore, has tweeted his memories of the late president, saying that when they met "we spoke for over an hour".

04.48 (23.48) Reuters is running some reaction from Venezuelans who fled to the United States under Chavez's rule. After Chavez took power in 1999, tens of thousands of middle- and upper-class Venezuelans fled the country, complaining of rising crime and shrinking economic opportunities. Many resettled in south Florida, joining the much larger virulently anti-communist Cuban exile community:

"Finally! Finally! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!" said Maria Elena Prati, 47, who waved a Venezuelan flag in the Miami suburb of Doral.

"We have a chance to chart a new path," said Mary Jenny Parra, a 42-year-old publicist. "May Chavez rest in peace, but more than anything, I hope for peace in Venezuela because I fear we're heading into a very turbulent period."

04.10 (23.10) A wonderful snippet from the New York Times: at one point, early in his presidency, Chavez drank 26 cups of espresso a day!

03.56 (22.56) Opposition leader Henrique Capriles has given a press conference, saying he was sending a message of "respect and responsibility." He urged the government to "act in strict accordance with their constitutional duties" and that the armed forces should "remain for all, because they belong to everyone."

"(There are) thousands, maybe millions of Venezuelans that are asking what will happen, they feel anxious and also fear... They should have no fear and feel no anxiety because between us all we are going to guarantee peace that this dear fatherland deserves."

03.40 (22.40) China is yet to officially comment on Chavez's death, but our correspondent in Beijing Malcolm Moore reports that the president was a key ally of Beijing. He says:

"Chavez visited six times, inviting Chinese oil firms into Venezuela to displace Western companies. China now imports ten times as much Venezuelan crude as it did five years ago and has made loans worth $38 billion, repayable in oil. Bilateral trade increased from $85.5 million (£56.4 million) in 1999 to $103 billion in 2010."

03.04 (22.04) In Cuba, president Raul Castro's government declared two days of national mourning and ordered the flag to fly at half-mast.

"It is with deep and excruciating sorrow that our people and the revolutionary government have learned of President Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias' decease. The Cuban people view him as one of their most outstanding sons and have admired, followed and loved him as one of their own. Chavez is Cuban too! He felt in his flesh and bones our hard times and problems, and he did everything that he could, with extraordinary generosity."

Hugo Chávez’s presidency (1999-2013) was characterized by a dramatic concentration of power and open disregard for basic human rights guarantees.

After enacting a new constitution with ample human rights protections in 1999 – and surviving a short-lived coup d’état in 2002 – Chávez and his followers moved to concentrate power. They seized control of the Supreme Court and undercut the ability of journalists, human rights defenders, and other Venezuelans to exercise fundamental rights.

By his second full term in office, the concentration of power and erosion of human rights protections had given the government free rein to intimidate, censor, and prosecute Venezuelans who criticized the president or thwarted his political agenda. In recent years, the president and his followers used these powers in a wide range of prominent cases, whose damaging impact was felt by entire sectors of Venezuelan society.

02.27 (21.27) Francois Holland, the French president, has joined the chorus of world leaders reacting to the death of Chavez, sending his "deepest condolences" to the Venezuelan people. He said Chavez had "profoundly marked the history of his country".

"I am convinced that Venezuela will overcome this test in democracy and peace," he said.

02.00 (21.00) Oliver Stone, the US filmmaker and long-time Hugo Chavez supporter has hailed the late Venezuelan leader as a "great hero" saying he will "live forever in history."

Actor and activist Sean Penn, another Hollywood friend to Chavez, also paid tribute, saying the world's poor had lost a "champion" and America had also lost "a friend it never knew it had."

Stone said: "I mourn a great hero to the majority of his people and those who struggle throughout the world for a place.

"Hated by the entrenched classes, Hugo Chavez will live forever in history," he added in a statement released by his publicist, adding: "My friend, rest finally in a peace long earned."

01.40 (20.40) Some news on Venezuela's political future: Mr Jaua has announced that a date will be set for new elections in 30 days' time. In the meantime, vice president Nicolas Maduro will temporarily assume power. This comes amid confusion over whether Mr Cabello would become interim president.

01.30 (20.30) Diosdado Cabello, president of the national assembly, has been speaking on television. He has called on Venezuelans not to fail Chavez.

Chavez started it, but it it's down to all of us to go ahead. Let's be like the Comandante. The president was an exceptional being for all of us.

01.00 (20.00) It has just been announced that the body of Hugo Chavez will lie in state for three days before his funeral on Friday. Mr Jaua says a funeral procession will carry Chavez's body to the military academy in Caracas on Wednesday, where it will remain until Friday so that supporters can pay their respects.

00.57 (19.57) Here is more on Donna Bowater's report that conspiracy theorists are claimingHugo Chavez actually died in Cuba and his body was flown back to Caracas in time for the announcement of his death.

00.47 (19.47) Venezuela's foreign minister Elias Jose Jaua Milano says the country is in "total normality" following the death of Hugo Chavez, according to Reuters. A state funeral will be held for Chavez on Friday and seven days of mourning have been declared, he says.

00.32 (19.32) Chavez's Twitter account, @chavezcandanga, continues to gather followers even though the man behind it is dead.

Hugo Chavez, the revolutionary giant of Latin America, has died in a military hospital in Caracas. Although adored by many of Venezuela’s poor and lionised among the Western Left, the record he leaves behind is mixed at best. It’s also, sadly, typical of a strain of Latin American populism that puts rhetoric above substance and class war above national interest. He might have seemed like the future to those with short memories, but he was really a very old fashioned demagogue.

00.25 (19.25) According to the constitution, Venezuela must move to elections within 30 days following the death of the president. In the meantime, Diosdado Cabello, the speaker of the National Assembly, would take over as caretaker leader. But Maduro seems to be firmly in control in Caracas tonight and we're waiting to see whether the elections go ahead.

00.17 (19.17)Jimmy Carter, the former US president, has also expressed his condolences. He released this statement jointly with his wife Rosalynn:

We came to know a man who expressed a vision to bring profound changes to his country to benefit especially those people who had felt neglected and marginalized. Although we have not agreed with all of the methods followed by his government, we have never doubted Hugo Chávez's commitment to improving the lives of millions of his fellow countrymen.

President Chávez will be remembered for his bold assertion of autonomy and independence for Latin American governments and for his formidable communication skills and personal connection with supporters in his country and abroad to whom he gave hope and empowerment.

00.15 (19.15) William Hague, the foreign secretary, is considerable warmer in his statement that the White House managed. But Britain's relationship with Venezuela was significantly less antagonistic than America's:

I was saddened to learn of the death of President Hugo Chavez today. As President of Venezuela for 14 years he has left a lasting impression on the country and more widely. I would like to offer my condolences to his family and to the Venezuelan people at this time.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died on Tuesday afternoon, announced Executive Vice-president Nicolas Maduro.

Our eternal gratitude in acknowledgement to the man who carried out projects of life for the country and for the peoples of the Americas, said Maduro in statements to the nation, and called his people to unity.

Also, he urged his people to be together like a single family and maintain discipline, cooperation and fraternity, as honorable heirs and children of a giant man like Commander Hugo Chavez.

00.05 (19.05) By the way, here's Chavez's last tweet which was sent out on the morning of February 18.

23.57 (18.57) Chavez always had a showman's eye for theatrics and knew how to get himself into the news. This photograph of him warmly shaking hands with the newly-sworn in President Obama was published around the world. I think that's Maduro, Chavez's political successor, looking on in the background.

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23.55 (18.55) Donna Bowater has a little more on an unusual rumour that Chavez in fact died in Cuba this morning and the government stalled while the body was flown back to Caracas.

Sources within Chavez's medical team have reportedly told Spanish newspaper ABC that the Venezuelan president died in Cuba this morning before being transferred to the military hospital in Caracas.

According to unattributed sources, Chavez's family had agreed not to have doctors keep him alive on Monday night, hours before his death was announced.

Life support was then withdrawn and when he had died, he was flown back to Caracas, the newspaper claimed.

It claimed vice-president Maduro was engaged in distraction techniques to have the world's media's attention while Chavez's body was returned earlier today.

The message reads: "I have no words. Eternally, THANKS! Strength! We should follow his example. We must continue to build the HOMELAND! Farewell my daddy!"

23.45 (18.45) Here's the footage of Maduro announcing Chavez's death a little earlier this evening:

23.40 (18.40) Donna Bowater, one of our South America correspondents, has been speaking to contacts in Caracas and sends this update:

Within minutes of the announcement of Chavez's death, the Venezuelan national flag was lowered to half mast in Caracas.

Patricia Villegas, a Venezuelan journalist who was outside the military hospital where the president died, said: "There were tears, people looked to the sky and gave thanks for the social changes that had been brought about."

Wilmer Barrientos, strategic commander of the Venezuelan Armed Forces (FAN), told the state broadcaster there was a plan to patrol the country "to defend the Fatherland" in the hours after Chavez's death.

He told Venezuelan state TV: "Those who die for life can not be called dead, we must carry on with love to build this socialist country.

"The FAN works for the people, for all people."

23.35 (18.35) If you're wondering why the American political class can't find anything pleasant to say about Hugo Chavez, here's some footage of him calling George W Bush "the devil" during a 2006 speech to the UN General Assembly.

23.30 (18.30) The White House has released this carefully-worded statement on Chavez's death. No mention of condolences.

At this challenging time of President Hugo Chavez’s passing, the United States reaffirms its support for the Venezuelan people and its interest in developing a constructive relationship with the Venezuelan government. As Venezuela begins a new chapter in its history, the United States remains committed to policies that promote democratic principles, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.

23.25 (18.25) Reuters reports that the opposition is calling for calm in the wake of Chavez's death.

Opposition leader Henrique Capriles called for unity among Venezuelans and offered condolences to Hugo Chavez's family and supporters after the president's death on Tuesday.

"At such a difficult time, we must show our deep love and respect to our Venezuela," he Tweeted. "My solidarity to all the family and followers of President Hugo Chavez. We appeal for unity among Venezuelans at this time."

This picture, taken by Nelson Gomes, purportedly shows Chavez supporters setting fire to tents set up by anti-government studen protesters.

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23.16 (18.16) There will be few tears shed in Washington tonight as America's politicians note the death of one of the US's fiercest international critics. This statement from Representative Mike Rogers, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, sums up much of the feeling on Capitol Hill:

Hugo Chavez was a destabilizing force in Latin America, and an obstacle to progress in the region. I hope his death provides an opportunity for a new chapter in US-Venezuelan relations

There are always exceptions and here is Representative Jose Serrano, a Democrat from the Bronx, offering praise for the fallen president.

<noframe>Twitter: Jose E. Serrano - Hugo Chavez was a leader that understood the needs of the poor. He was committed to empowering the powerless. R.I.P. Mr. President.</noframe>

The two men worked together in the mid-2000s to bring cheap Venezuelan heating oil to poor residents of Mr Serrano's district. Unsuprisingly, Serrano is taking heat on Twitter.

23.15 (18.15) Chavez's fanatically loyal supporters have begun mourning in the streets of Caracas, Holding banners with "Chavez is our leader" and "Chavismo will continue". The atmosphere is noisy and tense and we're expecting tens of thousands to turn out for his funeral.

When Hugo Chavez picked his favoured successor three days after winning his final election, he resoundingly declared: “This revolution doesn’t depend on one man!”

With his passing, those words will now be put to the test. The red torch of Venezuela’s “Revolution” will be handed to Nicolas Maduro, a 50-year-old former bus driver, who became vice-president last October.

No-one doubts that Mr Maduro, a loyal “Chavista”, agrees with his deceased mentor on every substantive issue. Nonetheless, it remains a safe bet that some elements of the “Revolution” will die with Chavez. In his last months, the late president liked to claim that Venezuela was governed by a “collective leadership”. Every citizen knew this to be absurd, for Chavez was the prime exemplar of one-man rule. Until cancer dragged the strength from him, he would take almost every decision himself, working into the early hours, scrawling his signature on official documents.

His message reads: "I regret the passing of President Hugo Chavez. My deepest condolences to his family and the people of Venezuela."

22.55 (17.55) Chavez's presidency was a performed against a colourful backdrop of old world socialism, complete with mass rallies and marching crowds. Here's his life in pictures.

26 March 1994: Army Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Chavez, who headed the 1992 attempted coup, talks to reporters after he was freed from jail. Chavez was freed after charges were dropped against him for leading the first of two attempted coups against the government of former president Carlos Andres Perez, who was later removed from office.

22.50 (17.50) Shortly after Maduro finished speaking, Venezuela's military commanders appeared on television to pledge their loyalty to the new president. Venezuela has a long history of coups and there had been fears that the transition could be marked by violence. So far things are looking stable but it's very early.

22.45 (17.45) Reactions are streaming in from around the world now. Here's George Galloway, the Respect MP and long-time champion of international socialism.

<noframe>Twitter: George Galloway - Farewell Comandante Hugo Chavez champion of the poor the oppressed everywhere. Modern day Spartacus. Rest in Peace.</noframe>

Hugo Chavez, the President of Venezuela who has died aged 58, was a shrewd demagogue and combined brash but intoxicating rhetorical gifts with a free spending of oil revenues to turn himself into a leading figure on the world stage.

Although no intellectual, Chávez was interested in history and in the power of ideas, and had boundless ambition, both for himself and his country, all fuelled by oil money that gushed into his nation’s coffers in the early years of the new millennium. It was a potent mix.

He first came to public attention in February 1992 when, as a young parachute regiment officer, he made a fleeting appearance on Venezuelan television screens during a botched coup attempt. The elected government survived, and Chávez went to jail. But he was not forgotten: he had told the television audience that he would be back, and within six years he was. He won the 1998 presidential election, and set about making sure that only he would decide when the time had come for him to go.

Thereafter he won election after election, changing the constitution when necessary, and dividing the country into bitterly antagonistic pro- and anti-Chávez camps. His admirers worshipped him as the fearless defender of the poor and nemesis of American imperialism; his opponents regarded him as an almost unmitigated disaster, bringing strife and shame to their country.

22.25 (17.25) Maduro looked deeply emotional as he made the announcement that at 4.25pm "our commander-president Hugo Chavez has died". He says plans for the funeral will be announced in the next couple of hours.

Hugo Chavez, the self-styled “revolutionary socialist” who dominated Venezuela for almost 13 years and tried to build a global anti-American front, died today, leaving his country in political crisis.

Vice President Nicolas Maduro announced the president's death shortly after Caracas revealed that the cancer-stricken leader was suffering from a severe infection.

"We have received the hardest and most tragic news that... comandante President Hugo Chavez died today at 4:25pm," Mr Maduro said on state television.

Chavez, 58, succumbed to cancer after months of failed treatment in Cuba. Only last October, he won a third election victory and resoundingly declared: “I will live!”

By leading a “Bolivarian socialist revolution”, Chavez tried to change the shape of Latin American politics. He used Venezuela’s oil wealth to bring health care and education to the poor for the first time, building clinics in the slums of Caracas and winning a genuine popular following.

22.07 (17.07) The first confirmation of Chavez's cancer came in June 2011, when a thin-looking president announced on live television that he was recovering from surgery. By May 2012, the Venezuelan government insisted that the comandante was cancer-free but within months it was clear that Chavez remained deeply ill. He went into surgery in Cuba in December last year and, despite returning to Venezuela, was never seen in public again.

22.01 (17.01) Chavez died within the last half hour according to Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan vice-president who will now take charge in the oil-rich South American nation. He made the announcement on television a few minutes ago.

<noframe>Twitter: Adrian Bono - [NOW] Venezuela VP Nicolas Maduro "Thank you, a thousand times thank you from the people you never failed". <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=Chavez" target="_blank">#Chavez</a></noframe>

22.00 (17.00 EST) Hello and welcome to our live coverage following as Venezuelan television reports that Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela and standard bearer for Latin American socialism, has died.